The Broncos want fans to get in on the fun when the team wears its orange jerseys against the Jets this Sunday. (Yes, those orange jerseys that should probably replace the blue jerseys because, let’s face it, the orange looks 10 times better.)

“I think any time you’re dealing with soft tissue, the precursor to pulling a muscle is that there is usually tightness in there,” Smith said. “We just want to make sure that he’s ready to go . . . He’s our starting corner. I don’t know if he’s our left corner, right corner or our match corner, but he is our starting corner. We just need to make sure that he’s ready to go.”

I talked with Lauren Shehadi on Monday during the CBSSports.com Around the League video segment , and I told her I thought the New York Jets would take care of CB Darrelle Revis’ contract. They’d have to, I thought. He’s the best cornerback in the league and he has plenty of leverage.

But I also pointed out that New York had moved Antonio Cromartie to Revis’ side of the field, so it seemed that the Jets felt like a longer hold-out was a possibility. But – and I don’t think I said this – I didn’t expect his absence to last into the season.

Well, that might not be the case. At least, that’s the sense I got from reading this Boston Globe story about Revis’ holdout, which entered its third day today.

From Albert Breer’s piece:

What are the chances the Jets start playing games that count without Revis? Better than you think.

“The main issue with us at this point is total compensation,’’ owner Woody Johnson said. “The guaranteed money or length of a contract or all the things that are part of a contract. . . we haven’t even negotiated those, because we’re so far apart on the other one.’’

The gap is, indeed, cavernous, according to league sources. The Jets have made a one-year offer, giving Revis a hefty raise from his $1 million salary with a promise to revisit the situation later, and they’ve also made a blockbuster long-term offer. Revis’ opinion of both is represented by his absence.

But more than the dollars, the divide is philosophical.

Revis’ position is simple. He wants that highest-paid-cornerback designation. That distinction now belongs to the Raiders’ Nnamdi Asomugha, who signed a three-year, $45.3 million deal with $28.3 million guaranteed in 2009 that brings him $16.585 million in 2010.

Breer then points out something I hadn’t thought about. Sure, Revis deserves to be one of the highest-paid players in the NFL – though I don’t see how New York will give him $15 million – but he’s still only a third-year player who still has three years left on his contract.

Oakland’s Asomugha played out a contract and then was franchise-tagged before getting his huge contract. Asante Samuel, Dunta Robinson, Nate Clements and Champ Bailey went through similar circumstances. Why shouldn’t Revis have to wait a little longer – prove a little more – before he gets paid like a big-boy cornerback.

I think eventually Revis will get more money, because he’s so invaluable to the Jets defense. But it might take longer to get him on the field than I originally thought. And New York – financially and defensively – will be the poorer for it.

Falcons defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder spoke to the Atlanta Journal Constitution about the upgrades to the Falcons defense. The article refers to the upgrades as a “$75 million renovation”, though a huge chunk of that derives from non-guaranteed money in cornerback Dunta Robinson’s $57 million contract.

With Atlanta adding no prominent pass-rushers to a unit that ranked 26th in total sacks last season, Robinson is the key piece. He’s not a playmaker (seven interceptions over the last five seasons), but he’s a play-stopper. In Houston, he often shadowed the opposing team’s top wide receiver.

However, Mike Smith runs a zone-based scheme that designates a left and right corner. Robinson may not be given the freedom to shadow a specific opponent; VanGorder said the Falcons have not yet decided how they will use their corners in 2010.

VanGorder was asked two really good questions in this interview. Below are his responses, followed by analysis from a non-invested third party.

Q: Are we going to see more blitzing from the defense in 2010?VanGorder: You just don't decide that you're a blitzing team. There are down and distance factors. There are quarterback factors. There's your personnel with respect to playing man-to-man. There are so many variables that go into making that decision. I think philosophically, we'd like to be considered a very aggressive defense. We'll continue to work that way.

Analysis: Often, the Falcons’ only chance at generating pressure last season was via the blitz. Man coverage is key in blitzing; with Robinson’s abilities and Atlanta still having no keynote pass-rushers other than John Abraham, expect even more aggressive blitz concepts in 2010.

Q: Do you have people who can get to the quarterback?VanGorder: We're better. I think we're better. I think that the process over the last three years has been to build a bigger, faster defense. We certainly have added to the depth of our defense. I like where we are right now with respect to our personnel. We have to keep developing and decide what they are going to do well and take advantage of all of their skills.

Analysis: Almost anytime a coach uses words like “development” and “depth”, what he’s really saying is that his starters stink. VanGorder knows that defensive end Jamaal Anderson can’t rush the passer, and he’s praying (but not betting) that either Lawrence Sidbury or Kroy Biermann emerges as a genuine pass-rushing specialist in training camp.